Posts: 11

Topic: Update on my Dad

Hi Everyone,

Thought I would do a quick update on my dad. He saw his specialist on the 23rd for what we thought was to be a scan. Turns out that this was just a quick meeting with the specialist to check on my dad's progress to date. He is getting a full CT scan in 3 months.

They took a blood sample but we didn't get the results on the day. He examined my dad and feels that the stent is doing it's job. Was very happy with my dad's colour, eyes, skin etc. Asked questions about dad's eating habits, very happy with the answer, that dad can still eat for Scotland! He weighed my dad, happy with that, no great gain/loss of weight, quite stable. Talked about mood, sleeping habits, pain etc and seemed happy with what Dad told him. So meds remain as they are. Sleeping is still a bit hit or miss at night, but good days right now outweigh the bad ones, which is good. So all in all, we are happy with how things seem to have progressed to date, although it means another 3 months wait until dad gets his scan.

Today was not such a good day though and Christmas has been a washout. Dad seems to be getting a cold, which is rare for him so he went back to his bed at mid-day. Mum seems to be getting the flu, sore legs, back, chest etc and has had trouble breathing so she didn't get up at all today. I spoke to them this morning and they just wanted to stay in bed so they did and I didn't see them today. To be honest, this is not a good time of year for them to say the least. New Years day 08, mum was rushed to hospital with suspected heart attack, turned out not to be but was blood clots. New Years day 07 her dad died of lung cancer and during the holidays the previous year her elderly Aunt also died. So they are both just really wanting to get through this period and get into 09, as am I.

Anyway, just wanted to do a quick update.

The best to you all.

Cheers

Gavin

Any advice or comments I give are based on personal experiences and knowledge and are my opinions only, they are not to be substituted for professional medical advice. Please seek professional advice from a qualified doctor or medical professional.

Re: Update on my Dad

Hi Gavin, Sorry your Mom and Dad's health weren't up to the holiday. I pray the new year brings you and your family a brighter picture. You know we are all just an e-mail away. With the help of some pain medication my family had a good Christmas. I was falling asleep by the end of the day. It was arkward though explaining to the granchildren why Papa was sleeping in a hospital bed now. My two brothers are coming to visit for a few days the begining of January. I guess my sister who already visited must of told them she felt they should come and see me. Everyone wanted to keep taking pictures of me together with them and the children like it is was going to be my last. Who knows, I just may have to prove them all wrong. Hope is always in the air! You know Gavin it's hard during this season for some of us,especially when illness is about. As the weather warms up, you'll see a natural high of emotions for the better. We get trapped in that so called seasonal depression state of we don't keep busy. Those long dark days and chilly nights some times get to us but we got to be strong and shake it off. Hope your Mom and Dad are up and feeling better real soon and you keep well also.Jeff

Re: Update on my Dad

Gavin,

I am hoping that things will start to look better for you & your family in the new year. I think Jeff is right that the season, weather, short days and long dark nights, etc. just adds to our burdens. Thanks Jeff for posting that to remind all of us, no matter what stage of this journey we are dealing with, that we need to keep busy and try to shake it off & stay strong. I am hoping that as Spring nears & it gets warmer & lighter out and the days grow longer & the nights shorter it will lift my spirts & easy the pain some. I am also hoping for that for you & everyone else that is dealing with this horrible disease.

Jeff I am glad that you and your family had a good Christmas. Hang in there & try to stay strong. You have been so much help & comfort to all of us here and we are all here to help & support you too.

I will keep you all in my thoughts & prayers.

Darla

"One Day At A Time"

All of my comments and suggestions are just my opinions and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care providers.

Re: Update on my Dad

Gavin,Thanks for the update and I am glad it sounds like your doctor is happy with your dads condition. It must take a little weight off your shoulders. I too understand the blues of the holidays and wanting to stick your head under the duvet and just wait (though it sounds like your parents have far more reasons). Hopefully the new year will bring them some emotional and physical rejuvination. Sending your the best.

Re: Update on my Dad

Hi Everyone,

Many thanks for all your kind words and support. Well Dad still has a cold, it's not too bad now, just coughing sneezing etc but he is like a bear with a sore head when he gets a cold and is pretty gumpy with it. He's always like that when he gets the cold, maybe thats a male thing!! I'm glad he doesn't get them too much, but he is on the mend so that is good. Mum has been in bed since the 24th with a virus and has only really been up to go to the toilet. She is also a bit better but her mood is really low. It seems like that when one of them gets low and is in a bad mood, they drag the other down in a sort of spiral. Im hoping that once they get a bit better physically and we get into the new year that they will both perk up a bit. Anyway, dad got the date today for his CT scan, its the 24th of March. Quite a while away but hopefully then we will know how the PDT has worked and what/if happens next.

Hi Vincent,

Here's hoping 2009 will be better for you and your family and indeed for everyone. I hope you managed to get your mum a good doctor and some good treatment for her. I wish you all the best.

Hi Marion,

I hope you had a good Christmas and I wish you all the best for the new year. I hope it brings you everything that you want. Hugs coming back across the pond your way!

Hi Jeff,

Good to hear from you. Thats good to hear that you and your family had a good Christmas. Christmas should be about spending time with the family so it brings a smile to my face to hear that you enjoyed yours with your family. Thats one of the things I liked most about Christmas, spending time with the family. I hope you will enjoy the visit of your brothers in January.Hope is indeed always in the air. I like your talk of proving them all wrong, I like that thought very much.

I hope you are right re the seasonal depression state. Mum and Dad dont really like the cold, short days etc. This year it really has seemed to affect their moods for the worse. Being stuck in the flat 24/7 is not good for them, especially mum. Hopefully by March the worst of the cold weather will have gone and spring will bring the new highs of emotion you talk of. I am doing my best to be strong for them both and taking care of myself also as you say. I will email you this week if thats ok with you?

Hi Darla,

I hope the new year will bring better things for you also. The cold dark weather here really badly affects my mums breathing. So even if she wants to go out, it makes it so hard for her and it really takes it out of her. Dad has to wrap up really well in this weather, so I got him some nice hats and gloves for Christmas!

It sounds like we can both do with the warmer, lighter days and nights of the spring. Hopefully this will indeed lift your spirits and help ease the pain some. I told mum and dad that as soon as it gets warmer, I am taking them to Anstruther, a tiny fishing village on the east coast of Scotland, about 30 miles or so from here where there is a chippy that sells the best fish and chips in Scotland! I think a lot of small day trips here and there will do them the world of good after spending the winter indooors.

Hi Kris,

My dads specialist was indeed happy with his progress so far, and if he is happy then I am happy! I really like my dads doctor and feel that dad is in the best possible hands. Dads doctor is the big chief as it were at Ninewells and was also involved in the very early stages of trials of PDT in the UK. He is also a very nice guy and spends lots of time with patients and the families.

All the best once again for your MRI scan and hopefully the new year will bring you and Hans some good fortune. Enjoy the fireworks!

Hi Tonia,

Thanks for your kind words. Up until now, I'd never really understood how the darkness and weather can affect people as it does. But after reading yours and others posts and seeing how it has hit my parents, I can see that now. Roll on the spring!

I am indeed hanging in there and hope you are doing the same.

Many thanks once again to you all and I wish all of you the very best.

Big hugs to you all!

Cheers

Gavin

Any advice or comments I give are based on personal experiences and knowledge and are my opinions only, they are not to be substituted for professional medical advice. Please seek professional advice from a qualified doctor or medical professional.

Re: Update on my Dad

Dear Gavin...it is always wonderful hearing from you. And here I thought I was the only one grumpy when having a cold. Your Dad and I have something in common. Wishing for your Mom to conquer the virus and your Dad to be is real self, real soon.Cheers to you, alsoMarion

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

Re: Update on my Dad

Hi Marion,

Mum and Dad are feeling quite a bit better today and they both got some sleep last night so that helps a lot. Dads cold is pretty much gone so his grumpiness levels are falling fast, which mum is extremely grateful for! Somehow I can't picture you getting as grumpy as my dad does with a cold, or maybe it's "man-flu" he gets, or thinks he gets!

All the best to you.

Gavin

Any advice or comments I give are based on personal experiences and knowledge and are my opinions only, they are not to be substituted for professional medical advice. Please seek professional advice from a qualified doctor or medical professional.

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